Buses and Bongo-Bongo; Has The Immigration Issue Sent Our Politicians Barmy?
12 / 08 / 2013
Immigration is back in the news yet again after UKIP MP Godfrey Bloom caused a storm of criticism on the back of his remarks about sending foreign aid to “Bongo Bongo Land”. Never mind abroad, we have plenty to occupy our thoughts here in the UK. The Home Office has come up with their latest Bright Idea to deal with...
Fees Freeze Rights?
09 / 08 / 2013
There’s a constant hum of dissatisfaction with the way that employment issues are dealt with in the UK. Recently, Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps suggested that employers have to resort to “disingenuous” reasons to dismiss poorly-performing staff and many small businesses simply refuse to employ people because of the costs of employment rights and the risk of employment tribunals. The...
Contracts of Employment: Carrot or Stick – You Decide?
07 / 08 / 2013
In seasonally reliant retail businesses with tight margins the zero hours contract is often viewed as a Godsend, the all singing all dancing document that gave the company the flexibility it needed. But now some political bodies view them as a way that employers can avoid their responsibility towards their employees. It can be said that if used properly the...
Workplace Discrimination: Is Religion a Cross For The Rest of us to Bear?
05 / 08 / 2013
Some great and good things have happened in the name of religion, but sometimes over-enthusiastic religious devotees are at best a nuisance and at worst dangerous. Recently I was invited to dinner with some friends who are practising Christians. I’m not, but live and let live and all that. Entre nous, I did feel a bit irritated that between the...
Safe As Houses
02 / 08 / 2013
Three weeks ago there was a serious train accident just outside Paris leaving six dead and injuring 22. Two weeks later safety was back in the news following the horrific Spanish train derailment. This time the death toll was 78. Then came the Italian bus crash at Avellino where at least 38 people died when the vehicle went through the...